Trace-support.



No. 69!,590. Patented Ian. 2|, I902."

H. anooxs. TRACE SUPPORT.

(Application filed .Apx-. 11, 1901.)

' (No Model.)

fizz/5272271"; if??? [937002111 UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEQ HENRY BROOKS, OF SOUTH BROOKLYN, OHIO.

TR)ACE7S u PPO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,590, dated January 21, 1902. Application filed April 11, 1901. Serial No. 55,423. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY BEooKs, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of South Brooklyn, county of Ouyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protective Trace-Supports, (Case No.'1,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in protective trace-supports, and has for its object the provision of means for preserving the strength and protecting from wear the traces of harnesses. I

In a harness as ordinarily made the traces are carried from the saddle and hip straps by leather loops or their equivalents, in which said traces are free to play. Thus it happens that at the points of support, by reason of the very considerable strain to which they are subjected and the constant movements of the horse, the traces become badly worn away in a comparatively short time. The. stitching is destroyed and repair or renewal of the traces is required. I have accordingly devised means for overcoming this difficulty, consisting of a metal clamp or fixture for re- .ceiving and supporting the trace, which is provided with one or more loops to accommo date the connecting-straps, and a part for securing the device firmly in position upon said trace.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein devices embodying my said invention are fully illustrated.

Figure 1 thereof is a side view showing in part a harnessed horse, the harness having my improvement ,applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front View of my improved device. Fig. 5 is a side view of the above. Fig. 4 is another side View of the same with a screw-bolt and loop removed for placing the device upon the trace, and Fig. 5 illustrates a slightly-modified form.

Throughout the several figures the same character of reference is employedto denote similar parts.

In Fig. 1 is shown my improvement applied to a harness, the device being indicated therein by reference-letter a. Referring thereto, it is seen that the usual leather loops directly supporting the tracesat the sides of the ani fitting the harness.

mal are dispensed with in the harness shown. Instead said traces arecarried by straps extending through metal loops b, provided upon my improved trace-supports, which are firmly fa'stened'to the trace inthe proper positions;

quired, one or more free or pivoted metal loops b, or said loops alternatively may be formed integrally with the front or back plate, as b.

It is of course undesirable to punch out a I series of holes, as for a buckle, from the body of the trace by which to secure the supporting device thereon and permit of its adjustment. Accordingly I provide means for clamping or securing the support firmly upon said trace. The form here shown has a pointed stud f, formed upon the back or bottom plate, which, in addition to the clamping action of the front and back plates, is adapted to be forced into the body of the trace when the device is placed thereon, thus securing the two parts firmly together.

Inasmuch as the trace commonly is larger both at the tug-trace and the cockeye than it is throughout its length, my device preferably is hinged, as shown, so that it may readily be opened and slipped about the middle portion of the trace Wherever required in This is necessary also if the stud f is permanently fixed upon the back plate or if the device fits the trace tightlyenough to secure the best results. When removable studs are employed, the device need 7 vcomplished.

Having adjusted the device u pon the trace, it. is forced shut, thus closely holding the trace between the front and back plates and embedding the stud in the body thereof, the plates being secured together by means of the screw-bolt e, which was removed to open the device. When applied to the forward portion of the trace, two loopsb are used, respectively, to receive the saddle-strap g and the belly-band 71, while for the hip-strap j, near the rear of the animal, a single loop only is required. Thus supported no unusual wear of the trace occurs, rendering the same capable of much longer use and preserving it from weakening cross-stitching or buckleholes. When a readjustment of the harness is required, it is a simple matter to remove one of the screw-bolts, (the other may well be riveted,) open the device, thus freeing the trace from the stud, place the support in its new position, and clamp it there, as before.

The support may be made in various ornamental patterns and be suitably plated to form not an inconspicuous ornament upon the harness. By using the pivoted loop I) the side play of the harness afiects the connectingstraps but little, thus preserving them from Wear.

I have employed the term hinge connections herein merely to designate the use of interengaging bored hinge-lugs upon the plates, which have transverse bolts or pins extending through said lugs, securing the plates together. Ordinarily but one of said hinge connections would serve as a true hinge when the trace-support is opened.

I claim, and desire to secure to myself by these Letters Patent, the following:

In a tracesupport, the combination with the angular front and back plates 0,01, adapted to embrace and tightly fit upon the trace, the plates having top and bottom hinge connections thus being adapted to be opened for receiving the trace or to admit of its adjustment therein, a removable screw-bolt e forming a part of one of said hinge connections and serving to secure the plates tightly upon the trace in their closed position, a loop I) pivotally secured to the device by the bolt and a stud f provided within the interior of the plates, adapted to enter the body of the trace and assist in securing the device in position thereon, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me at Cleveland, Ohio, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 3d day of April, A. D. 1901.

HENRY BROOKS.

Witnesses:

A. L. RALSTON, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE. 

